Selsey stun Sids... Bosham clamp Clymping

THERE was festive cheer for Selsey and Bosham as they notched home wins over Sidlesham and Clymping in the Southern Combination League.

Here are the match reports...

Selsey 3 Sidlesham 0

Southern Combination division one

SELSEY head into 2016 aiming for a mid-table spot and a taste of cup success after ending 2015 by beating neighbours Sidlesham.

The 3-0 victory was one of the Blues’ most comfortable of the season and left manager Steve Bailey there were plenty of reasons to be optimstic at the campaign’s halfway stage.

We still have a young side - our average age most weeks is only just over 20 - but we have more experience than last season and spirits are high.

Selsey manager Steve Bailey

An early strike by Ryan Morey, back at the club after a spell at Worthing, was added to just before the break by centre-half Jake Lintott, and Toby Lempriere’s 71st-minute goal put the result beyond doubt.

It was a rare day when Selsey had a recognised keeper between the posts - Ryan Chard on this occasion. It’s a position that’s been a problem for Bailey and his squad since Kieron Gilbert was ruled out for the season with a broken leg sustained against Ringmer.

Bailey said: “We’ve been playing well in recent week but have almost had to play a game of lucky dip to see who we can put in goal.

“That’s hurt us because when we played Southwick the other week, they had five shots and beat us 5-4.

“Against Sidlesham we were able to use Ryan and it was a big help. The defence played well, as they have been a lot recently, and we got the result we deserved.”

The three points moved Selsey up to 12th - fifth from bottom - and Bailey aims to keep his team going in the same direction.

He paid tribute to the contributions in recent weeks of Lintott and his central-defensive partner James Kilhams plus captain Dave Rough.

“We still have a young side - our average age most weeks is only just over 20 - but we have more experience than last season and spirits are high,” said Bailey.

“We’re still in the Division One Cup - we play Midhurst at home in the next round on January 30 - and if we can have a run in that and reach mid-table I’ll be content.”

Selsey’s next two league games will bring tough tests. They visit fourth-placed Oakwood on Saturday then host leaders Crawley Down Gatwick a week later.

STEVE BONE

Bosham 3 Clymping 0

Southern Combination division two

Bosham eased to a comfortable win as thoughts of a title surge were re-ignited after weeks of frustration caused by inclement weather.

In their first home game in more than two months, Bosham were quick to settle and it did not take too long for the Reds to get their noses in front.

Marco Giambelardini was looking sharp and was causing the Blues defence problems and the added pace of Graeme Dowden and Louis Bell spelt concern for the visitors.

After only a quarter of an hour, the deadlock was broken thanks to a moment of real quality from Dowden. He took charge of a free-kick close to the right-hand side of the area and swung in a delightful effort which had enough pace to beat everyone and end up in the net.

More chances came courtesy of Jake Lafferty and decent long-range efforts from James Wilson and Matt Docherty.

Clymping were finding Bosham hard to stop at times and although the heavy pitch certainly wasn’t conducive to flowing football, both sides did their best to entertain.

Right on half-time Giambelardini doubled the Reds’ lead. The striker controlled a clearance from keeper Kieran Magee and spun quickly to create a shooting chance and buried his effort low past Clymping keeper Dean Brook-Marsh.

To their credit the Blues dug in after the interval and frustrated the Robins, who weren’t able to add to their tally for 20 minutes.

But on 65 minutes a deserved third goal did arrive through the redoubtable Docherty, who headed home a Dowden corner to effectively end the game as a contest.

Clymping were reduced to ten men when Will Asham received his marching orders for a second booking and, subsequently, Bosham had an easy task of seeing out time.

With the Reds holding numerous games in hand on the teams above them, the opportunites for a surge up the table are there for the taking.